Lavandula Plant Named &#39;DOWPHSCNT&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Lavender  cultivar named ‘DOWPHSCNT’ is disclosed, characterized by short, compact plants. Plants produce unique short, wide flower spikes, uniform inflorescence and very compact plant form. The new variety is a  Lavandula , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Lavandula intermedia

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DOWPHSCNT’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Lavandula cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors, Simon Charlesworth and Fiona Wilson, in Kent, the United Kingdom. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Lavender varieties for ornamental commercial applications.

The parent variety is the, unpatented commercial variety Lavandula ‘Abrialil’. Plants of the parent variety were treated to induce mutation. Cuttings from the treated plants were selected, propagated and plants observed for noticeable differences from the parent variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by vegetative cuttings. This was first performed in Kent, the United Kingdom during 2009. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DOWPHSCNT’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DOWPHSCNT’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DOWPHSCNT’ as a new and distinct Lavender cultivar:

1. Compact plant.

2. Short plants with a moderate growth rate.

3. Broad foliage.

4. Short flower spikes.

5. Wide floral calyces.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DOWPHSCNT’ are similar to plants of the parent variety in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DOWPHSCNT’ differ in the following;

1. Shorter plant height.

2. Broader foliage.

3. Shorter flower heads with wider calyces.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DOWPHSCNT’ are comparable to the unpatented commercial variety Lavandula intermedia ‘Provence’. The two Lavender varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DOWPHSCNT’ differs in the following:

1. Plants of the new variety are at least 20% smaller in height and width.

2. Flower spikes of the new variety are shorter, approximately 8 cm compared to 18 cm.

3. Flower spikes of the new variety are wider, approximately 2 cm compared to 1 cm.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DOWPHSCNT’ can also be comparable to the unpatented commercial variety Lavandula ‘Grosso’. The two Lavender varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DOWPHSCNT’ differs in the following:

1. Plants of the new variety are approximately shorter, approximately 60 cm at maturity compared to 90 cm mature height of this comparator.

2. Flower spikes of the new variety are shorter, approximately 8 cm compared to 18 cm.

3. Flower spikes of the new variety are wider, approximately 2 cm compared to 1.5 cm.

4. Flower color of the new variety is lighter than flower color of this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DOWPHSCNT’ grown outdoors, in the ground in Kent, England. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 4 years from a rooted cutting. FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the flowers. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DOWPHSCNT’ plants grown outdoors in a clay loam soil in Kent, England. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 8° C. to 28° C. during the day and from approximately 0° C. to 15° C. during the night. Plants were not shaded. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula ‘DOWPHSCNT’ -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 21-28 at temperatures of             64-75° F. (18-24° C.), rooting hormone can be used to             promote early, uniform rooting.         -   Root description.—Fibrous. -   Plant:     -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 4 years from a rooted             cutting.         -   Plant spread.—Approximately 70 to 80 cm.         -   Plant height.—45 to 50 cm at 2 years old, 50 to 60 cm at 4             years old.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Length of primary lateral branches.—Approximately 18 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Average range 0.2 to 0.4 cm.         -   Quantity of lateral branches.—About 40.         -   Branches.—Color: Near Grey-Brown 199B Texture/Pubescence:             Puberulent.         -   Internode length.—Average range 1.0 to 4.0 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Whorls of leaves arranged opposite along             stem Quantity: Approximately 50 per main branch. Average             Length: Approximately 3.5 to 4.0 cm. Average Width:             Approximately 0.4 to 0.5 cm. Shape of blade: Linear Apex:             Acute Base: Truncate Attachment: Sessile Margin: Entire and             revolute Texture of top surface: Felt-like indumentum             Texture of bottom surface: Felt-like indumentum Pubescence:             Slight Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Green 191C             Young foliage under side: Near RHS Greyed-Green 191 C Mature             foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Green 191B Mature             foliage under side: Near RHS Greyed-Green 191B Venation:             Type: Linear, mid-vein depressed upper surface and             protruding on lower surface. Venation color upper side:             Indistinguishable from foliage Venation color under side:             Indistinguishable from foliage Petiole: Not present. Foliage             fragrance: Camphoraceous. -   Flower:     -   -   Bloom period.—Summer.         -   Inflorescence.—Form: Small single flowers arranged in whorls             on terminal spikes. Florets: Corolla tube is 2-lipped, upper             lip 2 lobed, lower lip 3 lobed. Size individual flowers:             Length: Approximately 0.5 cm Diameter: Approximately 0.3 cm             Inflorescence Size: Length: Approximately 4 to 12 cm. Width:             Approximately 1.5 to 2.0 cm. Coloration of Corolla:             Immature: Near RHS Violet 86B Mature: Near RHS Violet 86B             Fading: Near RHS Violet 86B Coloration of Calyx: Immature:             Near RHS Violet 83A Mature: Near RHS Violet 83A Fading: Near             RHS Violet 83A Bracteoles: Length: Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Fragrance.—Strong lavender scent.         -   Peduncle.—Peduncle length: Average range 25 to 30 cm             Peduncle diameter: Approximately 0.2 cm. Aspect: Straight             Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green group 147B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 4 Stamen length: Less than 0.2 cm.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Reniform Length: Approximately 0.5 mm Color:             Pale brown, too minute for an accurate measurement with RHS             chart. Pollen: Color: Near Yellow-Orange, too scant to             measure accurately with RHS chart. Quantity: Sparse.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: Approximately 0.4 cm Style:             Length: Approximately 0.6 cm Color: Near RHS Greyed-White             156D Stigma: Shape: Oval Color: Near RHS Greyed-White 156D             Ovary color: Green, not accurately measured with RHS chart. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Scant amount of small seeds produced. Seed             size approximately 2.5 mm, colored near RHS Brown 200A.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility observed. Lavandula is not affected by many             diseases and pets. However, Botrytis and some root rot             pathogens can be diseases problems, especially in overly wet             conditions. Various species of White Fly may infect             Lavandula.         -   Temperature tolerance.—USDA zone 5. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lavandula plant named ‘DOWPHSCNT’ as herein illustrated and described. 